Compressed gas circuit interrupter



Aug. 24, 1948. B. P BAKER ETAL COMPRESSED GAS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1946 Rn O l E ru N N8." R E m B m T H A d m Y .m. m B y m 0 BR zw agg 7, N. M

g- 1948- a. P. BAKER ETAL 2,447,627

COMPRESSED GAS CIRCUIT INTERRUPT ER Fil ed Jan. 12, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 [i1 LLJ Raymond H. Leitzel. Zu. A. w

Aug. 24, 1948- B. P. BAKER EIAL 7 COMPRESSED GAS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSESZ, 8 ILNBVENTORE (i /2&7 en 'umln a or on M Raymond H. Leltz el. 74A. M

BY 1/ i "'2 I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1948 CONIPRESSED GAS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER,

Benjamin P. Baker, Turtle Creek, and Raymond H. Leitzel, Wilkinsburg, Pa-., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,825

9 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit interrupters in general, and, in particular, to gas blast type circuit interrupters.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide an improved operating mechanism for actuating the gas blast valve of a gas blast type of circuit interrupter.

Another object is to provid an improved valve mechanism which opens the blast valve only during a portion of the opening operation, and which maintains the blast valve closed during the entire closing operation to conserve the supply of compressed gas.

Another object is to provide an improved blast valve mechanism for a compressed gas circuit interrupter which is suitable for long operational life.

Another object is to provide an improved blast valve mechanism which consists of few parts which are readily adjustable and which upon operation insure positive operation of the blast Valve.

Further objects and advantages will readily become apparent upon a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the draw ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a gas blast type of circuit interrupter embodying our invention and shown in the closed circuit position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the improved blast valve mechanism of our invention, the parts being shown in the closed circuit position of the interrupter;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the disposition 'of the parts during an intermediate point in the opening operation at which time the toggle means is just about to be collapsed by an engagement with the stop means to cause thereby closure of the blast valve;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the disposition of the parts in the fully open circuit position of the interrupter; and

Fig, 5 is a plan view, with portions of the parts shown in section, taken substantially along the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the reference numeral l designates a frame which supports a plurality of gas reservoirs 2 which collectively serve as a storage space for compressed gas which is supplied to the interrupter by means of the conduits 3, 4 which lead to suitable compressor equipment not shown.

Supported by the framework l is a valve casing 5 which supports a tubular insulating blast conduit 6, the upper end of which terminates adjacent the conduits which comprise a stationary contact I and a movable hook-shaped contact 8. The stationary contact 7 is electrically connected to the line terminal 8 and the movable Contact 8 has a bifurcated portion In straddling the insulating blast tube 6 and pivotally mounted at H to a conducting bracket l2 which leads to the other line terminal l3 of the interrupter.

Consequently, in the closed circuit position of the interrupter, as shown in Fig. 1, the electrical circuit therethrough comprises the line terminal 9, stationary contact 1, movable contact 8, conducting bracket I2 to the other line terminal I3 0f the interrupter. The contacts I, 8 are separated within an arc chute, generally designated by the reference numeral [4, and which forms no part of our invention. Preferably, the arc chute I4 assumes a construction as set forth in U. S. Patent 2,272,380, which issued February 10, 1942, to Leon R. Ludwig, Herbert L. Rawlins and Benjamin P. Baker, and which was assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

The movable contact 8 is moved to the opened and closed circuit positions by the rotation of an operating shaft l5 which is journalled at its ends in suitable bearings supported in brackets It, the latter having their upper ends secured to the frame I. The operating shaft l5 has welded thereto an operating part or bell crank H, the upper end of which i pivotally connected at 20 to the movable contact 8. Thus, counterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft l5 causes through the medium of the insulating rod l9 opening separating motion of the movable contact 8 from the stationary contact I. The rotation of the operating shaft I5 is caused by the actuation of a pneumatic mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 2| and comprising an operating cylinder 22 in which reciprocally operates a piston, not shown, which is connected to the piston rod 23. The upper end of the piston rod 23 is connected by means of the links 24 to a crank arm 25, the latter being welded to the operating shaft l5.

Thus, to cause the opening operation of the interrupter suitable valves, well known in the art, are actuated to admit compressed gas through the conduit 26 from the gas reservoirs 2 to the upper end of the operating cylinder 22 wherein this compressed gas forces the piston therein positioned downwardly to cause downward open- 3 4 ing movement of the piston rod 23, The downpivotally mounted on the knee pin bolt 53. The Ward opening movement of the piston rod 23 toggle link 50 comprises two spaced plates 54, causes through the links 24 and crank arm 25 55 which have a cross-plate 56 welded therecounterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft across, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. Hi. The counterclockwise rotation of the oper- The two plates 54 and 55 have their right-hand ating shaft I5 simultaneously causes counterends mounted by means of bearings 51 to the clockwise'rotation of the bell crank 'l'i'orwoper- 1 knee-pin=b'olt :53. The left=hand--ends of the ating part to effect downward movement of the plates 54," 55 are pivotally mounted by means operating rod H) to effect thereby separation of of a pivot bolt 53 to the arm or operating part the movable contact 8 from the stationary con-, .iufill welded to the operating shaft l5 and movable tact 1 within the arc shute l5 and-adjacentthe .therewith.

upper end of the blast tube 6. ""Two'spaced' support plates 59, 60 have a U- Simultaneously with thewcontact-separation shaped bracketfil welded thereacross. The

during the opening strcke,' 'the*blasfiwalvefiZl' .ueish'apedrrbracket 6! has 4 apertures provided (Fig, 2) is actuated by a blast valve mechanism, therein through' which extend 4 bolts 52, only generally designated by the reference numeral '28, two'ofwhich are='shown. The upper ends of the to permit compressed gas to pass upwardly from bolts .52 .extendthrough a flange portion 63 inthe gas reservoir 2 through the valve casing 5 and tegrally formed with the valve casing 5. Thus, upwardly through the blast tube 6 to effectexthe'two spaced support plates 59, 56 are stationtinction of the are drawn between the separated arily mounted with respect to the valve casing 5, "contacts I, 8. The blast valve mechanism?!) is Thespace support plates 59, 60 arespanned 'by a 'zzzmoreclearly shown inrFigs. 2 through 5; inclusive. -braced -64 welded at its ends to the'support' plates k- Referring :more'particularly to Fig. 2; it "will be 59. 85. An aperture 65 is provided at thewcenter observedathat'the valve casing 5 has a-bcre- 29 of the :brace 54 which threadedly mounts wstop -*formed therein into which snugly fits azvalve-body means, inthis. instance, comprisingan adjustable t section-30. The valve 'body section -30 is secured stop bolt '66.

within 'the-valve'casing 5 by bolts '3! clearly shown A rotatable bar 151-isl-pivotallysupported be- "in-Fig? 5. "I'hus;-:-by removing-the -b0lts-3l;"the tween the support=plates. 59,.= 5B-by-pivot-screws valve body section "30 maybe-removed from the '58, more clearly-showntin Fig; 5. mAttthe ce-nter ":ua'lve"i'casing' 5 *to permitinspection, repair and of 'therotatable bar-61--is--provided-an-.aperture urepl'acement of-the parts. This construction in- -69 throughwvhich? extends? a tubularwguidel lfi volving a removable valve body section is-more hav-ingtheupper. end .thereof welded toea yokeiiullydescribed and-claimed in 'UrS. patent applishaped member H. The legs 7'2-.-of.the, yokecation'pserial No';"566,725, filed December 5; 194A, shaped-member 'H- are-pivotallyumounted on the l'iby Raymond H. -Leitzel; and assigned to 'the asknee-pin bolt-=53. A compressionespring 13:.en- -fsigneefof the instant invention. r circles the tubular guide lflhandv. is- -positioned .Asfmore clearly shown in Fig. 2, "the blast valve between the rotatable bar 61 and the yoke-shaped Zlrhas a valvestem -32 which-slides within a bore vm'e'mber H. 1 -33 rprovided'inathe .valve'bodysection 39. At the l- It will consequently be "apparent thatthe-guide outerendr ofKthe valve stem 32. is threadedly se- 7!]; yoke-shapedmember- H =:and compression :Tcured' andclamped thereto an adjustablenut 34. spring- .'l3collective1y forma toggle over-center ZEA bOIE 35 spansztwo leg portions of the adjustable biasing means, generally designated by thereferf nut- 34 .to clamp the nut ltd-securely to the 'encenumeral l' t:andserving intheclosed-circuit threaded tend of-the valve stem 3'zafter adjust- :.-=position-of the.interruptereto".forcet theatoggle fix-mentthas been made. A compression gspring '36 5. means 49toits over-centerpositlon,.-asshownin disposed Within a bore 3'l-aprovidedain the valve Fig. 2 of the drawin smbody sectioniaurbiases the blast valve 21 to its Thenperationwof=ourimprove s blast'valve gnormallyclos'ed' position as showniriFig; 2. An -ioperating.s-mechanisml 'willknow beexplained. :Jannular 'va'lve'se'at '38 -rests against an'inwardly Duringnthe opening operation,-=When-th'e 'operate'xtending fiange' portiQn 'SB formed integrally ing shaft 15 rotates in a counterclockwise direcwith the valve casingi 5, ttion as viewed in all the drawings, the movable "'-'-'The-va1ve body'section'w has. integrallytformed contact 8 separates from thestationary contact 1 therewith two ofistandinglugs 40; more clearly "in a-mannerpreviouslydescribedxto draw aniarc shownimFig; 5, which have aperturesext'ending at the :upper end of tthe insulating blast tube 6. therethrough through which is mounted a bolt 4|. Simultaneously the operating part or arm |T 'a1's0 ""Piv'otallymounted on'the' pivot bolt 4| is an rotates in a=counterclockwise direction about the actuating lever, generally designat'ed'by' the "operatingshaft l5'zto force thetoggle means-lifl '---reference numeral a2, and consisting of a bifur- .tozrotatet-he actuating lever-42in aa'counterclock- 'c'at'ed member havingspaced side portions 43, M. wise-: 1 direction about th'e*"pivot" bolt=M. @This -A pivot-"bolt l5 spans the side portions :13; Maud ses the roller-'46 to engage th a i e nut --'mounts a'roller w, the later making engagement 34 into contactingi'engagement'fto*force"thewalve with the adjustable nut 34 to actuatethe blast -=stem 32 downwardly tocause'opening-bf the blast "valve 2'! during the opening operation. "valve 21 irrroppo'sitionto th "force iexerted-ibyrthe 'Ihe side portions 43,-"44 are spanned by an c ompression springf'3fi.'.Thefopehingofithe blast integrally'formedbrace' l'lythe purpose for whicn' fi valve zl' from'iits seat '-33; permitscompressed gas nfill-appear more clearly hereinafter. Adjacent i to flow upwardly from 'thegas reservoir Zrthrough the left-hand end of'the actuating lever 42 is the valve casing 5 andupwardly'through'the mounted through suitably formed apertures' in 'blast'tube 6 toefie'ct extinction of the arc? drawn theside portionse," '44, apivot bolt 58 which betwe'enthe'movable contact Band the-stationary p vot-ally "connects the actuating lever- 42 v'vith"=70 Contact 7. "toggle means; generally designated by'the refer- Thecounterclockwiserotative motion fof the *1 ence numeral49 and comprising two toggle links operating part or belrcra'nk'fll continues and the 50; 5!. "The toggle link" 5! has its righ hand "stopmeans orstop bolt is struck' by the-toggle end; as viewed inFig; 5', pivotally mounted'on the link' 5|. Furthercounterclockwise 'rotation 'of 'pivot bola-48' and has its midd1e-portion' 52 '75 the operating part I! forces thd-tog'glebnter 53 down over the centerline D, Fig. 4, thus breaking the toggle and allowing the toggle links 50, 5| to collapse or fold up. The collapse of the toggle means 49 permits the compression spring 36 to force the actuating lever 42 back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 2, at which time the brace 41 strikes the brace or stop 64. Further counterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft l5 and operating part ll continues to efiect thereby continued separation between the contacts 7, 8. However, throughout this continued opening rotative movement of the operating shaft IS, the blast valve 21 remains closed inasmuch as the toggle means 49 remains collapsed. The fully open circuit position of the interrupter is shown in Fig. 4. It will be observed that in this fully open circuit position of the interrupter, the blast valve 2'! is closed and the toggle means 49 is in its collapsed or folded-up position.

During the closing operation, suitable valve means, not shown but well known in the art, are operated to permit a blast of closing air to pass to the lower end of the operating cylinder 22 to force the piston positioned therein to move upwardly to thereby cause upward movement of the piston rod 23. The upward movement of the piston rod 23 causes, through the action of the links 24, clockwise rotative movement of the crank I6 to efiect clockwise rotative movement of the operating shaft IS. The clockwise rotative movement of the operating shaft l5 efiects corresponding clockwise rotative movement of the bell crank or operating part I! to simultaneously effect contact closure through the medium of the insulating operating rod [9 and straightening of the toggle means 49. Near the end of the closing stroke, the toggle overcenter biasing means 14 causes the toggle means 49 to assume its overcenter position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Throughout the entire closing operation, the toggle means 49 is collapsed and the blast valve 21 remains in its closed position. It is only near the end of the closing stroke that the toggle means 49 assumes a position in which it is capable of being pushed to its overcenter or toggle set position as caused by the biasing action exerted by the compression spring 13 associated with the toggle overcenter biasing means 14.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that we have provided an extremely simple mechanism for operating the blast valve of a compressed gas circuit interrupter in which few parts are employed, and in which positive action is assured due to the positive pivotally linking of the everal parts together. The mechanism which we have provided is suitable for long operational life in which the breaker operations may total 25,000 to 50,000 per year. By the adjustment of the stop means or stop bolt 66, the time at which the blast valve 21 may be closed during the opening operation may be regulated. Also, it will be observed that the point and amount of valve opening can be set by adjusting the clamp nut 34. The design consists of a minimum number of parts and is suitable for operation under severe service with a minimum amount of adjustment and attention. The point of valve closing can be set by adjusting bolt 66 and the construction is such that a rigid and secure mounting of the several parts is obtained.

Although we have shown and described a specific structure, it is clearly to be understood that the same was merely for the purpose of illustration and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an are, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are. extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the are, means normally biasing said valve closed, a linkage operable by the operating part and operable during the opening operation of the interrupter to cause opening of the valve and means operative at a predetermined point during the opening operation of said interrupter to cause collapse of said linkage to permit closing of said valve.

2. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, spring means biasing said valve closed, a pivoted actuating lever for actuating the valve, a linkage connected to the operating part and the actuating lever and operable by said operating part to open said valve, and means causing collapse of said linkage to permit said spring to close said valve.

3. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, a linkage operable by said operating part during the opening operation of the interrupter to cause opening of the valve, and means engageable by said linkage at a predetermined point during the opening operation to effect collapse of said linkage and closing of the valve.

4. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an arc extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, a pivoted actuating lever for actuating the valve, toggle means pivotally connecting the operating part to the actuating lever, and means engageable by the toggle means at a predetermined point during the opening operation to cause collapse of said toggle to thereby permit closin of the valve.

5. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, and

toggle means pivotally connecting the operating part and operable during the opening operation of the interrupter to cause opening of the valve, means engageable by the toggle means at a predetermined point durin the opening operation to effect collapse of said toggle to thereby permit closing of the valve, and biasin means for biasing the toggle means to the over center position in the closed circuit position of the interrupter.

6. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an arc extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, means biasing said valve closed, an actuating lever for actuating the valve to open position, means pivotally mounting the actuating lever adjacent one end thereof, toggle means pivotally connecting the operating part to the other end of the actuatin lever, means engageable by the 7 toggle means at a predetermined point during the opening operation to cause collapse of said toggle and closing of the valve, and spring means biasing the toggle means to the over center position in the closed circuit position of the interrupter.

'7. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact meansfor establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, spring means biasing said valve closed, a valve stem for operatin the valve, an actuating lever, an actuating lever operable to engage and operate. the valve stem during the opening operation, toggle means interrelating the operating part and the actuating lever for positively actuating said lever to open position, and means for effect ing collapse of said toggle during an opening operation to permit said spring means to close said valve.

8. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type, contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the arc, means biasing said valve in closing'directiona valve stem for operatin the valve, an actuating lever, means pivotally mounting the actuating lever adjacent one end thereof, means intermediate the ends of said actuating lever for engaging and operating the valve stem during the opening operation, toggle means interrelating the oper- 8 ating part and the other end of the actuating lever for positively actuating said lever to open said valve, and means for effecting collapse of said toggle means at a predetermined point during the opening operation to permit said biasing means to close said valve. 7

9. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type,

contact means for establishing an arc, an operating part movable in accordance with contact movement, a valve operable to cause an are extinguishing blast of gas to extinguish the are, a valve stem for operating the valve, a pivoted actuating lever, means carried intermediate the ends of said actuating lever for engaging and operating the valve stem during the opening operation, toggle means int'errelatin the operating part and the actuating lever, means engageable by said toggle means at a predetermined point during the opening operation to effect collapse of said toggle and closing of said valve, and biasing means for biasing the toggle to the over center position.

BENJAMIN P. BAKER.

RAYMOND H. LEITZEL REFERENCES CITED Whitney Sept. 26, 1933 Baker et a1. Sept. 1, 1942 Number 

